Benchmarks – June 2014
Transcription
Benchmarks – June 2014
Benchmarks A publication of the SCWTCA, Inc. volume 42, number 2 June 2014 GCH Greentree Keepsake Surfin USA x CH Sundance Order Of The Irish Rose Owners/Breeders: Susan & Donald Wuerz & Juliana McKamey Officers and Directors of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club of America, Inc. Gary Vlachos, President Sewickley, PA 15143 412.741.9424 Kayce Healy, Corresponding Secretary Castle Pines, CO 80108 503.348.8495 Connie Koehler, Director Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 310.717.4804 Karen Mueller, Vice President Etowah, NC 28729 828.891.9681 Pat Mullin, Treasurer Redwood City, CA 94065 650.867.2935 Rose Rose, Director Dublin, CA 94568 925.833.8292 Carol Carlson, Recording Secretary Paradise, PA 17562 717.442.4543 Deborah Van De Ven, Director Southborough, MA 01772 702.308.9542 Cindy Shea, Director Foristell, MO 63348 314.691.2760 Benchmarks Editor Molly O’Connell, 7912 South Vincennes Way, Centennial, CO 80112 phone: 303.718.3701 e-mail: moconn1030@comcast.net Table of Contents From the President...........................................................................................................4-5 From the Editor....................................................................................................................5 Celebrating Long Life.....................................................................................................6-8 Open Registry......................................................................................................................8 The Devil’s Advocate...................................................................................................10-11 Championship and Performance Titles........................................................................12-13 Northern California Specialty.......................................................................................14-17 Lulu Always Makes Me Laugh.........................................................................................18 Using the DNA Marker Test.......................................................................................20-23 Breeding Combinations Chart...........................................................................................24 Del Val Specialty Weekend..........................................................................................26-28 Understanding the NutriScan Test...............................................................................29-31 Remembering Bob Nerrie.................................................................................................34 Marijuana Toxicity in Dogs..............................................................................................36 MA: A Discussion with Dr. Shelly Vaden..................................................................37-40 New Members...................................................................................................................41 Subscription Information..................................................................................................42 Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 3 From the President by Gary Vlachos Today at church our assistant rector had the pulpit and while his sermon was tied to the Gospel, I saw a parallel for us as individuals, breeders, and members of SCWTCA. His story in brief was of his own experience in college as a pledge to a fraternity. The final “leg” of his induction involved being taken to a woodland park in the dead of night. He was simply instructed to follow the path. Along the path he was aware of his “aloneness”as the sounds of the night surrounded him. Out of that darkness a person appeared and asked, “Who are you?” He answered, “I am ....” As he continued his journey, a second person came forth and asked, “Where are you from?” He answered again. A third encounter from the shadows posed this question to him: “Where are you going?” With more introspection than before, he answered. Finally at the end of the path, he came upon a bridge and was greeted by the man who would become his big brother in the fraternity. His “brother” welcomed him into the fellowship and assured him as they walked over the bridge together that he would never have to cross a bridge alone again. Now some of you may think this is all kinda schmaltzy! Okay, maybe it is, but I see so many parallels in this story to our journeys in becoming members of SCWTCA. Who are you? Are you simply a name? What is behind that name? What experiences are the essence of that name? What has brought that name to us? Where are you from? A specific place? Or does the question ask what is your life history that has brought you to this point? Where are you going? What are your needs and aspirations? I think this is the question that determines if indeed you as an individual and we as a group share the same values and goals. Indeed there are many parallels between my rector’s journey into his fraternity and our journey in becoming members of SCWTCA. Why make that journey? Why not just be a college student? Why not just be a breeder of Wheatens? I think it has a lot to do with the final part of the journey: “You will never have to cross a bridge alone again.” Surely we can exist as individuals in this sport. But what membership brings to us is immeasurable. From the friendships we forge, the information we share, and the framework that our club provides to pursue our passions of all things Wheaten, we are a fraternity. Within this fraternity what truly sets us apart from the others? It is our Code of Ethics. Our Code of Ethics is what separates us from the puppy millers, backyard breeders, and internet entrepreneurs. When we are asked by the public why we are different from the aforementioned, how many times have you heard yourself saying, “As a member of SCWTCA we have to follow our Code of Ethics in all of our breeding practices.” Now, that sounds pretty impressive, but do we always? Of course not! There is not a tome out there that defines moral and social conduct on any level for any group that is followed absolutely to the letter. After all we are human. But it also doesn’t mean we conveniently ignore it either. What good are we if we do not strive to adhere to the code that defines us? As members we should always try to adhere to our Code of Ethics. Also as members we should be aware when fellow members stray from that code. You may be able to help them. Remember, in this process we never have to cross bridges alone again! Perhaps it’s a personal call... “Is there anything I can do to help you right now?” It could be a refusal to supply a stud dog if you know the circumstances are not ideal. What we don’t want to do is to ignore the reality of situations gone bad. We cannot be enablers! What value does our membership have, what credence does our statement, “as a member of SCWTCA we have to follow our Code of Ethics in all of our breeding practices” carry if we are indifferent to it within our own ranks? Of course, common sense must always prevail. I am Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 4 happy to say in my many years on the Board I have been aware of many stumbles, and only a few falls. For the most part the individuals either on their own or with the help of friends pick themselves up and move forward across that bridge. On just a few occasions the path of the club and the path of the individual has had to separate. Most often it is the individual who decides this. Rarely has it been the case where the Board has moved on this disaffiliation. No matter the circumstances, we must remember that while our associations make us strong, so do our disassociations! As long as we recognize who we are, where we are from, where we are going, and we wish to walk that path and cross those bridges together, we will always be proud to say we are members of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club of America. From the Editor by Molly O’Connell I don’t know where my journey will take me, but I I hope more of you will think about advertising your hope, as Gary says, I do not cross my next bridge dogs - this a great venue for showcasing them not only alone. It is time to move on. For the past four years I to the subscribers, but to the more than 200 judges have edited Benchmarks. With the first issue, I didn’t who receive it. There are also untold numbers of those even know how to open a document in the software who access Benchmarks through the website. We all program. I’ve come a long way, baby. Maybe I’ll love to see photos!! Admit it, isn’t that what you look become a full-time, paid editor. NOT, as my high at first when you open the issue, either online or in school kids loved to say. print? The first two years - eight issues - that I produced was during a health crisis for me. I was undergoing chemotherapy each time I designed, laid out, and edited an issue; however, I pressed forward and found that the job was a bit easier the following two years! I have a few hopes for the future of this venerable magazine: I hope that folks with something to say will step forward and offer a column to the editor. I hope those who contribute to each issue will honor the time and deadlines of the editor so each issue can be produced with as little stress as possible. I hope new SCWTCA members will contribute their background and photos to the membership chair for inclusion in the magazine. I hope more members will contribute to Celebrating Long Life. You can share stories (and endearing quirks) of your oldtimers or honor a dear friend who has recently departed. I’m so happy I shared my stories of Annabelle (who died September 2013) and Siouxie (March 2014) before they each left me. I hope the Board will agree to combine Benchmarks and the Health Newsletter for a comprehensive magazine that showcases all facets of the Wheaten Terrier. I don’t mean health issues that pertain solely to our breed; instead, that nutrition, vaccines, treatment for illnesses etc. can be included that should be of interest to all us dog owners. On to the June issue. Why yes, there are some interesting health articles! Now, I didn’t include the marijuana article because Colorado has legalized the drug, though it may have caught my attention for that reason. Please check out Dr. Jean Dodds’ new test for allergies (NutriScan). A number of our dogs suffer from allergies of an indeterminate nature and for which we often go through lengthy food trials to find the cause. Although pricey, Dr. Dodds does have a saliva test which should provide the answers you are looking for. And it might NOT be pricey if you are going to spend a small fortune changing foods, undergoing allergy testing, or other similar actions. Read the endearing and funny story of one of our many rescue dog successes. You’ll nod your head and chuckle when you read Lulu’s adventures. I hope your days are long and your hearts are warm to friendship and our beloved Wheatens! Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 5 Celebrating Long Life CH Winterwheat Kinsey’s Kandi Kiss “Kandi” (CH Meirleac's Quarterback Sneak x CH Winterwheat Galway Klassic) DOB April 1, 2001 Montgomery that October. Too young to be entered that year, she went along to support her Wheaten sister, CH Galway K is for Kinsey. Unbeknownst to us, she escaped from our hotel room and was scooped up by a kind hotel guest (I think it might have been Barb Smith), who walked around with her and tried to determine to whom she belonged. Fortunately, Kandi knew and went crazy when she saw us. We learned very quickly that we needed to keep a closer eye on Kandi. A friend of mine once told me, “Be careful what you name your Wheaten. Often the dog takes on the personality of the name.” That statement could not be truer when it comes to our very own Kandi Kiss. She has always been a very sweet dog and takes every opportunity possible to give everyone a kiss. Kandi came to us in 2001 as a puppy from her breeder, Bette Eckstrom. She went with us to her very first It is hard to believe that she is 13. She has the same beautiful, silky coat that she had as a pup. She still chases the vacuum and runs to her crate when someone sneezes. She sleeps a little more soundly now, and her hearing is not quite as good as it once was, but she still is, and always will be, our sweet little Kandi Kiss. Owners: Karen and Geoff Bilda Breeder: Bette Eckstrom Sea Mist Brewster of Ivywild “Brew” or “The Captain” (CH Doubloon’s Expresso x CH Ivywild’s Star Billing) October 19, 1999 – December 6, 2013 Brew was my boy and I was his person. We said goodbye when it was plain that his time had come. His age just caught up with him and it had become much too hard for him to get around and to have the quirky joy in life that was an intrinsic part of his being. He tried always to know where I was and what was happening all around him, but that became harder as his sight and hearing deteriorated. He was a sweet boy, and I shall miss him every day. He will be my boy forever. Owner: Sandy Hurd Breeders: Genie and Bob Kline Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 6 Katdancer Irish Lace “Lacey” (CH Wheaten Rebel’s Odessa File ROM x CH Duidream Scampi for Escapade) DOB April 20, 2000 Katdancer Irish Lace, the dog of my heart, celebrated her 14th birthday on Easter Sunday and was given an elaborate bonnet fashioned for her by a friend. Lacey wore it with grace and seemed amused by the spectacle. She still likes to sleep on my bed and is determined that breakfast should be served at 4:00 a.m. or earlier. She then likes to go back to sleep for another two or three hours. She is from my first litter and taught me so much... Years ago when Lacey was a stubborn adolescent, we were often locking horns, so my vet suggested I try her in agility. Lacey loved it and introduced me to a sport that I also love. Through Lacey and agility, I've made many close friends and enjoyed weekends running in the dirt. Before retiring from competition, she earned her MXP and MJP titles and many, many first-place ribbons. She still loves to do the obstacles, especially the dog walk, as evidenced by the photo taken of her this April, but we've dropped the bars to four inches to minimize the impact on her neck and shoulders. She is nearly deaf now but still completes courses correctly, watching me intently for signals of the next obstacle. Happy birthday, Lacey! Breeder/Owner: Lee Martin Shenanigan Jump n Jehosophat “Wrigley” CD RA OAJ NA NAP NAJP (CH Jendu Ante Up x CH Shenanigan Second Edition CD) February 27, 1998 - January 27, 2014 Even when he went blind at a young nine years old, he still wanted to jump, and we were able to teach him by touch, to jump his jumps in the backyard. He got so good at it, you almost couldn't tell he was blind! He got his first conformation major his first time out, and we remember one judge saying, "he's a man's kind of Wheaten" because he held himself in such a stately manner. Wrigley was our first dog and our first Wheaten, so we always expected him to live with us for a long time. He was a very special dog for almost 16 years. Even though he ran out of the obedience ring at his first performance trial, even though he barked at the placement platform at his first BOB win, he was a very special Wheaten. He loved agility. It was his favorite "job." He couldn't wait for his turn to go, barking at the other dogs as if to say, "hurry up, it's my turn!" We were the lucky ones - to have him fill and enrich our lives as only a dog can. We thank Lorie Toivola for giving him to us and showing him in the ring. It was our honor to be his owners and to love him. Keep jumping Wrigley; even the Rainbow Bridge isn't too high for you! Owners: Sue and Bruce Peters Breeder: Lorie Toivola Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 7 CH Trigo’s Develish Delight “Rosie” (CH Charwill Slam Dunk x CH Carrigan Trigo Eye O’The Storm) DOB May 14, 1999 – January 15, 2014 Rosie had a mind of her own from the get-go and was a wonderful companion for my son Michael for the last 10 years of her life. Every day when he got out his car keys, she was at the door and would go to the gym with him and sleep on her sheepskin rug while he worked out. Her delight were the walks they took off lead on the BLM land in Northern New Mexico. Occasionally she would decide she wanted to jump in the truck of the organic farmer who lived in the area and would have to be coaxed out. Rosie’s health declined in the last six months, and she left us in January, never to be forgotten. Her lab work was perfect but her mind and body said enough! Owner: Michael Butler Breeder: Nancy Butler She liked the show ring and flew around it. An excellent mother, she produced a litter of nine by CH Aranbriar Adonis. Two of her last litter are alive and well in New Mexico at age nine even though ultrasounds showed abnormal kidneys at 10 weeks. Her big adventure was flying home from Michigan, having been bred on 9/11, so she spent the next 10 days at a boarding kennel and arrived home having never missed a beat. New Open Registry Members May 2014 The Open Registry is a joint project of SCWTCA-sponsored research at NC State University, University of PA and the University of Guelph (Canada). Its purpose is to publish information on confirmed cases of genetic diseases in Wheatens and to maintain health and genetic records for SCWTCA-sponsored research. Dr. Meryl Littman at Penn maintains the Registry at the request of SCWTCA. Members of the Open Registry agree to forward pedigrees and medical data for all Soft Coated Wheaten Terries they own, have owned or bred who may be affected with Protein-losing Enteropathy/Nephropathy, Addison’s Disease, Renal Dysplasia or Irritable Bowel Disease to the SCWT Open Registry, c/o Dr. Littman. For membership form, visit SCWTCA web site at http://scwtca.org/documents/health/or_ membershipform_20100630.pdf. For a complete list of Open Registry members, email kccarlson@comcast.net. Denise Gottlieb Tina Kaven Rodney &Shauna Kellard Cheryl Kenper Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 8 Michele Montes-Capton Michelle & Bill Space CH Saddlebrook's It All Started With A Big Bang CH Kincora Tara Life In The Fast Lane x CH Saddlebrook's Pickapocket Bazinga finished in his first three weekends from the Bred By Class with multiple majors. Saddlebrook Wheatens Stan and Jinx Moore Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 9 The Devil’s Advocate by Pam Mandeville Not Me, Alan, Not Me of irresponsible owners and unplanned and unwanted breedings. “Since we are for all dogs, we support those in the public who chose a mixed-breed dog from a shelter.” Alan Kalter Dog News, April 11, 2014 Alan, you’ve driven me into rant mode. I realize I sound like Scrooge for getting angry about mixed breeds and shelters. Of course, I don’t want to see a dog die or be warehoused…which is a lot different than saying I’m comfortable with today’s shelter movement. What makes me angry, Alan, is YOU said it, not the head of some animal welfare organization. You are, after all, the Chairman of the Board of the American Kennel Club. Yes, that AKC, the one with this mission statement and objective…and note my highlights: AKC Mission: The American Kennel Club is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its Registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function. Founded in 1884, the AKC® and its affiliated organizations advocate for the purebred dog as a family companion, advance canine health and well-being, work to protect the rights of all dog owners and promote responsible dog ownership. AKC’s Objective: Advance the study, breeding, exhibiting, running and maintenance of purebred dogs. How exactly does adopting a mutt from a shelter advance any one of those things, Alan? By definition, a mutt…and you can use the politically correct “mixed breed” or “All American Dogs” all you want, buddy, they’re mutts…is the result of everything antithetical to AKC. They are the epitome I’ve been cranky about this topic for a while. It all started with Pedigree. Remember back when their ads featured top breeders talking about why they feed Pedigree to their top winning show dogs? Beautifully produced ads featuring articulate people, clean, attractive settings and robust, happy puppies. Pedigree was a presence at dog shows throughout the country and provided clubs with financial support. Slowly that changed. First, they moved from highlighting breeders and winning dogs to “health.” Then mixed breeds started appearing in their ads. Soon fewer shows were supported culminating with the Westminster fiasco: remember that? They used the broadcast to raise money for shelters, completely ignoring parent club rescue work. It was clear Pedigree did the math long before AKC did: there’s money in mixed breeds and shelter dogs. Sure, Pedigree is a business. They had put marketing dollars into something that wasn’t paying back. Pedigree makes money for its owners…and the purebred dog world was no longer profitable. You know all about marketing, don’t you, Alan? The business you inherited created the Serta sheep and many other great ad campaigns. So when AKC… and yeah, dude, you were a member of that Board… decided it was time to open the doors to mutts, your marketing expertise jumped right on it, I’ll bet. So arose AKC Canine Partners™…and don’t forget that all-important “™”. It’s not a brand without that, right, Mr. Mad Man? Canine Partners™ allows owners of mutts to “list” them with AKC and compete in obedience, rally and agility. Those entry fees are nice for individual clubs’ treasuries. But really, Alan, it’s got nothing to do with the AKC, does it? Read the charter and by-laws of the organization you head. None of those guys were Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 10 talking about anything except integrity of the registry and competition…for PUREBRED dogs. Now, I know you’re all about the future, Alan. You remind us it’s not our father’s AKC. Being modern sounds good. But you and I know…rebranding is tricky at best. Rebranding is changing the story about a product or service away from what it’s been to something new. Something that will appeal to a larger, more receptive audience…but probably not your previous target. The trick is credibility: the old story was believable. Will the new story be? You’re trying to rebrand AKC, Alan. And you have to know better. You’re trying to say we’re not about a segment of dogs that resulted from decades of careful breeding but about every dog ever born. You think that getting into bed with careless breeding and irresponsible dog ownership will save AKC. But really Alan, at the same time you’re turning away from the people long dedicated to the AKC, what are you bringing to the table to those who think the best place to get a dog is at the pound? They can buy stuff online more cheaply than at the AKC store. They can donate to other organizations that support dog welfare and dog health…and Alan, being a cheapskate with the donation to the AKC Canine Health Foundation is hardly good PR. They have a multitude of online information resources that were well-established long before the AKC discovered Facebook and Twitter or created WOOFipedia™ …ah, another ™. Alan, whose AKC are you saving? Because the more you cater to the “save a mutt” crowd, the more you’re telling them they’re right and driving them away from purebred breeders. There’s not very much in your “new” AKC for me or anyone else I know in dogs… except, of course, growing registration fees…that support programs for mutts. So what am I about? I’m about sound, typey, beautiful, carefully bred, healthy dogs. Ones that excel in the ring and field and in the homes and hearts of their owners. I’m about purebred dogs. I’m about the AKC, the one that “Advance(s) the study, breeding, exhibiting, running, and maintenance of purebred dogs.” Remembering Bob Finally, a note. Our breed lost Bob Nerrie a few months back. I met Bob and Elaine on the day I finished my first show dog more than 25 years ago. It was a great weekend in upstate New York both with people I knew and these terrific new friends. I’ve sometimes said my memory of that weekend has a golden haze over it. The warmth and the golden haze have never left my friendship with Bob and Elaine. Bob Nerrie was just the kind of person I liked. Smart. Funny. Articulate. Warm. Liberal. Goofy at times. Soft-hearted often. When John came into my life and we included visits to Wheaten Regional Park on our trips to the Bay area, I was pleased they hit it off… but not at all surprised. People in dogs have two types of friendships based mostly on the common interest in dogs and shows. Despite fun post-show dinners, you know there are some folks you probably wouldn’t like all that much without the dogs. Others…like Bob…become real friends, people you can share your lives with and ones you wish didn’t live all the way across the country. I found it typical Bob loved Vinnie and Rookie so much. Vinnie’s success belied the challenge he created for Bob…how to get this dog to perform at ever higher levels. And Rookie…well, that goofball tested his humor and patience. Clearly, he loved both dogs not in spite of those quirks but because of them. And so that was the Bob I knew, too. Rising to a challenge. Enjoying the journey. And never forgetting his sense of humor along the way. Our hearts are sore because Bob’s gone but they are fuller for having known him. Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 11 SCWT CHAMPION and PERFORMANCE TITLES January – March, 2014 Compiled by Sheila O’Connell DOG Ch Acacia's Appointed By The Queen Almar's Miss Cassandra BN RN Ch Almar's Toast To Cela Ch Aran Walks On Water MACH6 Ballybae Katie's Uptown Girl CD MXS2 MJG2 MXF Bear XI CGCA Ch Bryr Rose Lillet's Monsieur Cooper GCh Bryr Rose Phoenix Rising Ch Cadenza Opus Three Rigaudon Encore Callaghan's It's A Bugs Life CGC Casey Teddy RE Ch Cashel's Oban On Ice Catharnach Cormac Sgt Sullivan CD BN GN RAE CGC GCh Ceili's Time To Shine NAJ Chergold Tanzanite Girl CDX RE Ch Clover's Moonstruck Reflection Of Greentree Cuileann Take A Chance On Me CDX RAE Ch Doubloon's All That Glitters Ch Doubloon's Southern Charm MACH3 Dunfrae's Red Gate Renegade MXC MJB2 OF Ch Eringlo Dancing Through Life BN TD MX MXJ NAP NJP Eringlo Riverdance AX AXJ Ch Eringlo Uncanny Cashew CD BN PCD GN RA Ch Frolic's If The Shoes Fit Ch Gemstone Sailors Good Fortune Ch Geragold Maximum Joy NA NAJ AXP AJP Geragold Paper Gangster At Vineyard NA AXJ Geragold Rage Hard RN MX MXJ MXP MJP NF OFP CGC Gleanngay Hullabaloo Square One RN MX MXJ MJS XF T2B Gradaigh O'Riley Of Vermilion OA OAJ Ch Greentree Buddy's Charm Ch Haldane Minsmere Sun Seeker Ch Heirloom Hey Good Lookn' BN RN CGC Ch Heirloom Kaitlen Fly Me To The Moon OA NAJ Ch Heirloom Take A Chance On Me NA NAJ NJP Ch Heirloom To Infinity And Beyond BN RN AX OAJ NAP OJP CA Ch MACH5 PACH Heirloom Truly Irresistible RN MXB3 MJB3 MXP3 MXPB MJP4 MJPB PAX OF Holweit's Red Grenadine RN THD CGCA Jethro NA NAJ MXP MJP4 MJPB NF XFP CGC Ch Keepsake's Soul Surfer Kilronan Ziggy Stardust AX OAJ CGC Lexis Fashion Junkie RE MXP6 MXPS MJP6 MJPS Ch Lil'Town Mandi Flirt Of Ardnacassa Ch Lismore Band Of Brothers Ch Lismore I Like Ike Ch Lismore V For Victory Little Guy Quigley MX AXJ Ch Marquee's Sweet Home Alabama Ch Marymore Essence Of Starlight GCh Melandees Join'N The All Boys Club Ch O'Lorcan's Mystery Writer Orion Trébol Hot House Flower CDX BN Orion Trébol Hot Off The Press VCD2 BN GN RAE MX AXJ MXP MJP OF Ch Orion Trébol Hot On The Leader Board BN RE OA OAJ NAP NJP OF Orion's Cool Your Jets CD OA AXJ MXP3 MXPB MJP2 MJPB OFP SIRE Ch Whindancer's Heart Like A Wheel Buckwheat Emperor Over The Sea GCh Mother's Finest Born To Be Animagical Ch Legacy The Grail DAM Ch Acacia's Hot Lava Ch Crispas Extravaganzia Bon Aquarel Beauty At Almar Ch Aran Nobody Does It Better Ch Bryr Rose Degas Magnun Dolly's Howie GCh Lochlinear Gleanngay Cha Ching Ch Bryr Rose Nouvelle Vague Ch Reflections All You Need Is Love Charlie Of River Cottage Ch Ballybae Rosie's Katie Too Walker's Sweet Sasha Ch Bryr Rose FrenCh Kiss Ch Bryr Rose Flower Power Ch Kriskennyperfecttoniccadence Woodland Come With Me Mae GCh Greentree Moonstruck Mombo Man Catharnach's Aran Fisherman Ch Duidream Quicktime Ch Kildimo's Boys Of Blue Hill Ch Wheaten Rebel's Nelson For Navy Ch Villa Rosas Felyan Ch Harmony Robber Barron GCh Gleanngay Legend Of The Grail Ch Islander's Jamakin Me Krazy Ch Eringlo Rise Above The Mist Ch Eringlo Rise Above The Mist Ch Krisaire Triple Crown Of York Ch Baroque Top Shelf Hurrikane Ch Honeylee's Bye My Fair Whind Ch Whindancer's Heart Like A Wheel Cashel's Northern Exposure Milvest Cambree Ceili's Susan B Anthony Goldkist Jillybean O'Toole CD Ch Greentree Clover Ooh La La Ch Edgewood Liberty Rising Cuileann Ch Doubloon's Playing For Keeps Ch Stratford Top 'O The Mornin' Dunfrae's Mira's Classy Lady Ch Eringlo Playing With Fire VCD2 RE TDX MX MXJ NF Ch Eringlo Playing With Fire VCD2 RE TDX MX MXJ NF Ch Eringlo Cuddlebug Ch Frolic's Bubble N Squeak Gemstone's Carolina Queen Ch Geragold Daughter Of Aran Ch Geragold Seanacy Gilded Trébol Ch Honeylee's Bye My Fair Whind Ch Geragold Daughter Of Aran Ch Marland's Awesome Dandy Andy Vermilion's Snow Bird Ch Wheaten Rebel's Nelson For Navy GCh Cuilinn Expresso Con Panna Ch Heirloom T&T's Tige In A Shoe CDX RN MX MXJ MJB OF Ch Whindancer's Sweet Baby James Ch Jendu Fleur De Lis Ch Gleanngay Til There Wazoo Villa Rosas Wanya Ch Greentree Silver Charm Haldane Tapestry RA Ch Eringlo Rise Above The Mist Ch Mil Mear Geragold How Far? Ch Heirloom Heartsong Look'n See Ch Heirloom Hey Good Lookn' BN RN CGC Ch Heirloom Hey Good Lookn' BN RN CGC Ch Heirloom Wish Upon A Star RA OA OAJ OAP AJP Ch Lakkas Ulmus Ch Lakkas Ulmus Ch Heirloom's Truly Madly Deeply Holweit's Mexican Martini GCh Greentree Keepsake Surfin Usa Ch Cameron Hunnicut Ch Gleanngay Derring-Do RN OA NAJ House Of Softy Legend GCh Stratford Top Brass GCh Stratford Top Brass GCh Stratford Top Brass Keepsake's Sizzlin' Hot Ch Edgewood Steel Magnolia Ch Deryni One For The Money Ch Lil' Town Flirt Of Ardnacassa GCh Lismore World Without End GCh Lismore World Without End GCh Lismore World Without End Ch Baroque Top Shelf Hurrikane Ch Abiqua Wild Knight Romance Ch Marquee's Trick Question Ch Whindancer's Sweet Baby James GCh Marquee's Tax Exchange Ch Starlight Pretty Woman Ch Melandees Dazzeling Display Ch O'Lorcan's Mythical Irish An Scalai Ch Acacia's Some Like It Hot VCD2 RAE MXP MJP NFP Ch Acacia's Some Like It Hot VCD2 RAE MXP MJP NFP Ch Acacia's Some Like It Hot VCD2 RAE MXP MJP NFP Ch Acacia's Some Like It Hot VCD2 RAE MXP MJP NFP Ch Candance Daze Of Thunder Ch Trébol Top Billing OA OAJ NAP NJP Ch Trébol Labour Leader Ch Trébol Labour Leader Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 12 Perrin's Bailey's Irish Cream CGC Roberts Sugarbear Riley MX MXB MXJ MJS OF Star Flynn O'Flute CGC Ch Stratford As Legend Has It Ch Sundance's Hot Surfer Dude Ch Tara Good Vibrations For Claddagh Ch Tara I Get Around MACH Trébol Labour Of Love CD RAE MXB2 MJG2 MXP3 MXPB MJP5 MJPS PAX MXF XFP Vermilion's Mr Finn OAP OJP MACH4 Vermillion Doogan's Irish Cream MXS2 MJG2 T2B Ch Westridge High Adventure CDX GN RAE NAP NJP CGCA Brian Boru O'tara Ma's Irish Barney Ch Star My Dear Watson"" GCh Gleanngay Legend Of The Grail GCh Greentree Keepsake Surfin Usa GCh Stratford Top Brass GCh Stratford Top Brass Gwendolyn Blessing Ogeorge Princess Smiles Ch Star Hunters Dream Girl Ch Stratford Top 'O The Mornin' Ch Sundance Order Of The Irish Rose Ch Tara Life's A Beach Ch Tara Life's A Beach Ch Geragold Orla Finlandia Vermilion's Snow Bird Ch Trébol Take It From The Top CH Jonaire Vermilion Ice Angel Traligill Gradaigh O'Kaler Kaler's Amanda Of Vermilion Ch Heartstring's Toast To Tara Ch Whindancer's Forget About The Boy Ch Winterwheat Just Dew It VCD2 RN MX MXJ MJB NAP OJP NFP Yogi OA NAJ Ch Whindancer's CatCh A Falling Star Ch Westridge Champagne Punch GCh Whindancer's Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This Villa Rosas Abernaudd O'Holwett Ch Winterwheat's Whipped Creme Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 13 Wheatens on Safari The 2014 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club of Northern California Specialty April 11, 2014 by Camille Taylor The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club of Northern California invited Wheatens from all around the country to come to Sacramento, California for a safari weekend. We were delighted to have an entry of 39 beautiful dogs this year. Our judge for the Specialty event was Mr. Philip Freilich. He awarded Best of Breed to GCH Doubloon’s Extreme Play and Best Opposite to GCH Pitterpat Allons-Y! The ever knowledgeable Ms. Gwen Meyer judged an entry of 12 (3-9) puppies in our Puppy Sweepstakes. Legacy Glenngay at Bonney (b) (9-12) took Best in Sweeps and Westridge Weekend at Bernies (d)(6-9) was awarded Best Opposite in Sweeps. The Wheatens really “strutted their stuff ” and proved to everyone why we love our wonderful Wheaties. Because our theme was “Wheatens on Safari,” the show ring was decorated to set the stage for an African safari. Green grasses and plants, beautiful flower arrangements, African water jugs and colorful elephants and giraffes were displayed around the ring and on the table. Even the Wheaten ring markers wore authentic African masks, and the trophy table was decorated with an African mural. A special thank you to Sheryl Beitch for creating such a beautiful setting for our specialty show. Every morning Susan Solsby set the stage for a great day by providing delicious snacks for our safari. Our club members and friends gathered each day in the Wheaten grooming area to share stories, groom dogs, laugh and cry while preparing for a new adventure. Thank you, Susan, for your hard work and organization. A homemade scone in the shape of a wheaten is a great way to begin a safari. Thank you, Marcia Weisman, for planning our Specialty trophies. This year’s winners were treated to a variety of trophies: etched wood pedigrees and boxes, also etched glass plates and trays as well as hand-painted Wheaten safari tiles. May these beautiful trophies remind our winners of this special safari event for years to come. A huge thank you also goes to our hard-working Pat Rutherford for helping us gather donations to make these trophies possible. Friday evening we all came together for our annual Specialty dinner, raffle, and auction. Tami Herzog, our “dinner planner extraodinaire,” chaired this event. The food was delicious, the weather perfect, and the setting beautiful. This year’s dinner was held outside in a huge white tent and again expertly decorated by Sheryl Beitch and her helpers to reflect our safari theme. Table decorations were a tremendous hit and displayed clay Wheaten figurines on safari riding Range Rovers or elephants. A heartfelt thanks goes to Mike Weiss and Brian Ness for donating all of the flowers and greenery for the beautiful ring and table decorations. Our awesome raffle was chaired by Rose Rose and held treasures that reflected our safari theme and love for Wheatens. There was something for everyone: Wheaten artwork, jewelry, grooming aids, gift certificates, and a designer purse. Our emcee for the evening was Dick Taylor who helped us celebrate our specialty’s Wheaten winners and congratulated our lucky raffle winners. And finally, thank you to Richard Urquhart, our evening’s auctioneer. As always, he conducted a lively, lighthearted, profitable auction. That’s what our weekend was all about - our dogs, our friends, wonderful food, relaxing times, and special memories. Our club would like to thank our exhibitors, our judges, our volunteers, and our friends Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 14 for joining us for our African safari and for providing each and every one of us a temporary retreat from our busy, everyday life. Speciality Co-Chairs, Camille Taylor and Betty Kaiser, invite all of you to return next year for another great adventure. Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club of Northern California Judge’s Critique by Philip Freilich April 11, 2014 good movement with level top lines and good reach I want to express my gratitude to the Soft Coated and drive. Wheaten Terrier Club of Northern California for inviting me to judge their regional specialty. Thank you to all the exhibitors for accepting my decisions in a BOB: A powerful bitch with exceptional substance and courteous manner and exhibiting good sportsmanship balance with a commanding ring presence. This bitch moved well on the day with excellent coat and throughout the judging. Following are a few correct breed type. The BOB bitch was very clean comments and observations of the entry and the top through the neck and shoulders. She exhibited a lively, winners. upbeat temperament. The overall balance of the dogs was good. Most dogs were square to approximately square. Several dogs had BOS: A very nice dog with exceptional balance front upright shoulders and this made them appear long and and rear, correct proportions, and beautiful wavy coat. BOS dog had a balanced head, good eye with correct unbalanced when gaiting. Coats in general were good SCWT expression. The competition was close between to excellent being soft, wavy, and silky. Several dogs this dog and the breed winner. had clipper/scissor underlines which took away the natural presentation of these dogs. The Standard states BOW: A very feminine young bitch that moved well on that dogs that are over groomed are to be severely the day with good top line and reach and drive. This penalized. bitch will only get better with time. Most exhibits had correct head proportions, eye color, and a scissors or level bite. Some exhibits had incorrect A note to the exhibitors: Many of you are racing your dogs around the ring too fast and are not properly ear sets or too large an ear. Tail sets were all over the board. We had the whole range from correct tail sets, gaiting your dogs. This throws the dog’s movement off on the down and back and makes it more difficult to low set tails, and gay tails. for the judge to evaluate if these exhibits have correct movement. The breeders are to be congratulated as the temperament on all the dogs I examined was good and to the standard. Again, thank you for having me. It was an enjoyable day. On the move most of my top winners, including the Select and Award of Merit winners, had adequate to Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 15 BSW: Legacy Gleanngay at Bonney (GCH Lochlinear BOSSWP: Westridge Weekend at Bernie’s BOB: GCH Doubloon’s Extreme Play (GCH Doubloon’s BOS: GCH Pitterpat Allons-Y! (CH Derryhumma Mr. Glenngay Cha Ching x GCH Gleanngay Lady of the Lake) Breeders: J. Caliri, R. Green & G. Dunlap. Owners: Bonita Snyder, J. Caliri & R. Green. Salt Of The Earth x CH Doubloon’s Ultimate Player. Breeder/ Owner: Elena Landa. SD: CH Gemstone As Your Fortune Comes (GCH Lochlinear Gleanngay Cha Ching x CH Westridge Sugar Magnolia) Breeders: Ilze & Bernard Barron. Owners: Jody, Ilze & Peter Barron. Mistoffelees x CH Pitterpat’s Mabe Funke) Breeder: Sheryl Beitch. Owner: Karen & Guy Davis & Sheryl Beitch. SB: CH Marquee’s Sweet Home Alabama (CH Baroque Top Shelf Hurrikane x Gemstone Carolina Queen) (CH Baroque Top Shelf Hurrikane x GCH Marquee’s Tax Breeders: Tami & Jim Herzog. Owners: Tami & Jim Herzog & Exchange) Breeders/Owners: Richard and Sonja Urquhart. Linda & Christina Lee. Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 16 WD: Touchstone Masquerader (CH Reflections Here Comes The Son x CH Touchstone Polka Dot) Breeder: Shelly Sumner. Owners: Sierra & David Askwith & Shelly Sumner. WB/BW: Burdigan’s Red Hot Chili Pepper RWD: Baroque Ain’t Nothin’ But a Good Time (CH RWB: Legacy Gleanngay at Bonney Bearenstain Bear x GCH You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet) Breeder: Christy Weagant. Owners: Paul Bovarnick, Nan Waller & Christy Weagant. (CH Harbour Hill Mike Delfino x CH Burdigan’s She Dreams In Color) Breeders/Owners: Josh & Julie Burdick. (GCH Lochlinear Glenngay Cha Ching x GCH Gleanngay Lady of the Lake) Breeders: J. Caliri, R. Green & G. Dunlap. Owners: Bonita Snyder, J. Caliri & R. Green. V/AOM: CH Orion’s Ya Talkin’ To Me (CH Marquee’s AOM: CH Lismore I Like Ike Tricks Of The Trade x CH Brenmoor’s People Will Talk) (GCH Stratford Top Brass x GCH Lismore World Without Breeders: Betsy Geertson & Gary Vlachos. Owners: Richard & End) Breeder/Owner: Meg Ryan. Camille Taylor. Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 17 Lulu Always Makes Me Laugh by John Ore Ever since my wife and I saw a young couple walking a Wheaten Terrier at a street fair in downtown Tempe, I wanted one. After I retired I felt I had the time to take proper care of a dog. I thought a rescue was the only way to go. On the website for the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club of America, I found the rescue link. That took me to Nancy Butler. I filled out the application and told her that I wanted an adult female but most importantly, I wanted a calm dog. Nancy assured me that she could help, and shortly thereafter she advised that she had located a dog for me, but it was in North Carolina. Nancy put me in touch with Karen Mueller who was taking care of Lulu while she was in rescue. My only question for Karen was if Lulu was a calm dog. She told me two things. First she said Lulu was so calm that her grandkids thought she was boring. Karen’s second statement is still with me today. She said, “Lulu always makes me laugh!” I told her to put her on the plane. Lulu arrived with a natural curiosity and a great disposition. I soon learned that Karen’s grandkids thought she was boring because they had no rabbits near their home. No matter where we took her, everyone was drawn to her. I enrolled her in training classes at a nearby Petsmart where the instructor immediately fell in love with her. I tried giving her a bath and brushing her myself, but she hated that. I soon located a groomer, but as soon as Lulu realized where she was, she made a U-turn and headed for the door. That was then. Now she looks forward to her “spa day,” and when she gets there, she opens the gate and heads directly toward the back door, opens it, and sits in front of the crate where she waits to be groomed. It took no time for me to learn that Lulu can open any door with a lever handle and any Arcadia door that is not locked. One of our houses is on a lake, and Lulu loves to swim. She also wants to catch a goose. I think she heard they taste like chicken. I asked a neighbor to take care of her while I was out of town overnight a few months ago. I cautioned the neighbor that Lulu can open doors. That very afternoon the neighbor went outside to get her mail and turned around to see Lulu running down the block. She loves Lulu and when she ran up to one of the other neighbors she was back into custody. Taking her to Dog Beach in San Diego was almost more fun than we could stand. Like a little kid, she was afraid of the water at first. That didn’t last long, and by the end of the day she was so tired from playing in the water that she slept for two days. When I noticed how social Lulu was, I decided to work with her to become a therapy dog. Her gentle disposition and good nature seemed to make her a natural. I trained her by taking her everywhere. She went to church with us, and she has also joined my Rotary Club. Lulu and I have made several hospital and rehab center visits. She has no problems with crowds and loves social interaction, so I contacted Pet Partners, a division of the Delta Society, to see about getting her a therapy dog certification. After I attended a handlers’ course, it was time for Lulu to show her stuff. It turns out that everything I had been doing with her prepared her very well for her evaluation. She passed with flying colors and is now a certified therapy dog. Lulu even inspires me to be more kind to everyone I meet. She also inspires me to lock doors when I go outside. If Lulu’s new home gives her half as much joy as she brings to us and all those she meets, she is a very happy little girl. John and Gina Dore rescued Lulu in February 2012. Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 18 The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club of Greater Milwaukee cordially invites you to our 26th annual Specialty in beautiful southeastern Wisconsin Friday, July 25 SCWTCGM Specialty Specialty Judge: Mrs. Judith Franklin Sweepstakes Judge: Louise Bishoff of Seanacy Wheatens Event supported by the SCWTCA. Indoor judging with air conditioning Location: Waukesha County Expo Center Hospitality luncheon, raffle, and silent auction following BOB Wheaten garden art for sale Saturday & Sunday, July 26 & 27 Waukesha Kennel Club Judges: John Bink, July 26 Charles L Olvis (p), July 27 Entry supported by the SCWTCGM Indoor judging with air conditioning Location: Waukesha County Expo Center Monday, July 28 Burlington Wisconsin Kennel Club Judge: Mrs. Glenda P Dawkins Location: Walworth County Fair Grounds Tuesday, July 29 Burlington Wisconsin Kennel Club Judge: Mrs. July Webb Location: Walworth County Fair Grounds Questions: Chairman, Geoffrey Bilda at bilda@sbcglobal.net. Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 19 Using The DNA Marker Test New this year to the SCWTCA, Inc. website is the following pictoral presentation of a slide show, created by members of the Health Committee. These can be found on the PLN Variant Gene Test Page. As a club member, I was not aware of its addition, so I thought others might not have seen it as well. Once you go to scwtca.org, click on “health” in the box on the left. On the health page, look in the “more Info” box on the right. Click on Understanding Breeding Combinations: A Breeder’s Tool found under “Results.” For those who find graphic depictions more illuminating, please see the DNA chart, created by club member Helen Fraguela. The two offerings combine to clarify why the PLN test is an important tool in a breeder’s box of tests and considerations when determining a future breeding. ~editor Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 20 Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 21 My dog is a Homozygous Negative Find the DNA status of the mate and read across to understand the results of breeding your Homozygous Negative to him/her: The potential mate is a…. Each puppy…. Homozygous Negative Will be a Homozygous Negative Heterozygote Has a • 50% chance of being Heterozygote and • 50% chance of being Homozygous Negative Homozygous Positive Litter Composition Will be a Heterozygote All puppies will be Homozygous Negative • The litter could be ANY combination of Heterozygous and/or Homozygous Negative puppies. All puppies could be Heterozygote, all puppies could be Homozygous Negative, or the litter could be any combination of the two. • However, no puppies can be Homozygous Positive All puppies will be Heterozygotes Back to first page 4 My dog is a Heterozygote Find the DNA status of the mate and read across to understand the results of breeding your Heterozygote to him/her: The potential mate is a…. Homozygous Negative Heterozygote Each puppy has a…. Litter Composition • • The litter could be ANY combination of Heterozygous and/or Homozygous Negative puppies. All puppies could be Heterozygote, all puppies could be Homozygous Negative, or the litter could be any combination of the two. • However, no puppies can be Homozygous Positive • • • • Homozygous Positive 5 • • 50% chance of being Heterozygote 50% chance of being Homozygous Negative The litter could be ANY combination of Homozygous Normal, Heterozygous and/or Homozygous Positive puppies. All puppies could be Heterozygote, all puppies could be Homozygous Positive, all puppies could be Homozygous Negative or the litter could be any combination of the three. 25% chance of being Homozygous Negative 50% chance of being Heterozygote 25% chance of being Homozygous Positive 50% chance of being Heterozygote 50% chance of being Homozygous Positive • The litter could be ANY combination of Heterozygous and/or Homozygous Positive puppies. All puppies could be Heterozygote, all puppies could be Homozygous Positive, or the litter could be any combination of the two. • However, no puppies can be Homozygous Negative Back to first page Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 22 My dog is a Homozygous Positive Find the DNA status of the mate and read across to understand the results of breeding your Homozygous Positive to him/her: The potential mate is a…. Each puppy…. Homozygous Negative Will be a Heterozygote Heterozygote Has a • 50% chance of being Heterozygote • 50% chance of being Homozygous Positive Homozygous Positive Litter Composition All puppies will be Heterozygotes Will be a Homozygous Positive • The litter could be ANY combination of Heterozygous and/or Homozygous Positive puppies. All puppies could be Heterozygote, all puppies could be Homozygous Positive, or the litter could be any combination of the two. • However, no puppies can be Homozygous Negative All puppies will be Homozygous Positives Back to first page 6 A word about probabilities Sorting out the difference between a puppy’s chance to have a specific DNA status and what will be in your litter can be confusing. Here’s an easy demonstration you can do: 1. Take out a coin…it’s got two sides, heads and tails. You know that if you flip that coin, there’s a 50% chance it’ll be heads and a 50% chance it’ll be tails. 2. Now, flip it 6 times. You probably didn’t get 3 heads and 3 tails…you may have gotten 2 and 4 or 5 and 1 or all one or the other. (Mathematically speaking, you had a 31.25% chance of getting 3 and 3)* The reason for this result is that each coin toss is an independent event…the result of the second toss has nothing to do with the result of the first. Each puppy’s DNA is based on getting one gene from mom and one from dad…and that is independent of what happens to every other puppy in the litter. That means each puppy is like flipping the coin in step 1 above, However, a litter is like flipping the coin 6 times in step 2. That is why we show two separate columns: one for each puppy’s possible result and one for the litter as a whole. 7 *An explanation of the calculations can be found here: http://www.dummies.com/howto/content/how-to-determine-probable-outcomes-with-coins-and-.html Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 23 Helen Fraguela’s DNA Chart Pairs POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS AND WHAT THEY WILL PRODUCE*** Each puppy takes one gene from each parent Variant Gene 0-0 0-0 1-0 0-0 1-1 Each puppy’s chance of inheritance 100% 0-0 50% 50% 0-0 1-0 100% 1-0 0-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-1 1-1 1-1 50% 25% 25% 1-0 0-0 1-1 50% 50% 1-0 1-1 100% 1-1 *** Remember, these are the odds for an individual puppy. Unless the odds are 100%, the litter could be composed of all, none, or some of any possible result Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 24 Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 25 2014 Delaware Valley Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club Specialty Weekend “Run for the Roses” by Cherie Turner It all started with the Garden State All Terrier Club, the first of the three shows on our specialty weekend. The judge for the day was Irish judge Sean Delmar with an entry of 32. Winners Dog, Greentree Feis Dancer Midnight Tobasco Waltz, was also Best of Winners and Best of Breed. He is owned by Kate Heller, Donna Baird, and Beverly McDonald. Reserve Winners Dog was Whindancer's Light My Fire, owned by Susan Ratliffe and Allison Raith. The day started with Lloyd Amodei judging Sweepstakes. The entry was 22. His winners were Banner Jersey Girl for Best in Sweepstakes who is owned by Pam and John Mandeville; for Best Of Opposite in Sweeps, he chose Edgewood Take On Me, owned by Carl McGill. Regular classes followed and were judged by John Constantine. There was an entry of 41. Mr. Constantine choose for Best of Opposite, Best of Winners and Winners Dog Greentree Feis Dancer Midnight Tobasco Waltz owned by Kate Heller, Donna Baird, and Beverly McDonald. The Reserve Winner was Wheaten Rebel's Take a Ticket to Greentree, owned by Beverly and Kevin McDonald. Winners Bitch was Lismore Past Forgetting, owned by Catherine Pikul and Meg Ryan. Reserve Winners Bitch was O'Mannion Greentree Heartbreaker, owned by Joanne and Terry Manning. The judge also selected BOB: GCH Doubloon’s Extreme Play GCH Doubloon's Extreme (GCH Doubloon's Salt Of The Earth x CH Doubloon's Ultimate Winners Bitch was Play, owned by Elena Player) Breeder/Owner: Elena Landa. Landa, for Best of Opposite Banner Jersey Girl; she is Sex, CH Mackanme One owned by Pam and John Love One Heart, owned by Deborah Van De Ven and Mandeville. Reserve went to Coventry Seanchai Penny Joe Maguadog, for Select Dog, and GCH Greentree Serenade, owned by Erma Heckman and Jeannie Kelly. Gold Charm, owned by Kevin and Beverly McDonald, for Select Bitch. Best of Breed was GCH Doubloon's Extreme Play, owned by Elena Landa. Select Dog went to GCH After judging, all Wheaten lovers and their friends Waterford Carnival, and Select Bitch was GCH gathered for the 8th Annual Wine and Cheese party, Greentree Gold Charm. Awards of Merit were provided and hosted by Carole Clark (Clewbay) and awared to CH Mackanme One Love One Heart, CH Cherie Turner (Frolic). Diamonds Ain’t Misbehaving, Banner Jersey Girl, and CH Greentree Sugar Plum. Saturday was a beautiful sunny day for our specialty held in conjunction with Bucks County Kennel Club. After judging there was a luncheon with Barry Ivler once again manning the grill (the ribs were yummy) Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 26 and dishes from our members. Even though it was windy, we held the leprechaun toss. This year's prize, a beautiful hexagonal bowl from The Potting Shed, Harelooms.com in Concord, MA, was donated again by Dennis Baribault. It was another breezy, chilly day for the third and final day of our Specialty weekend. Today the judge was Mary Jane Carberry and the entry was 32. She choose for Winners Dog and Best of Winners, Wheaten Rebel's Take a Ticket to Greentree, owned by Beverly and Kevin McDonald. O'Mannions Greentree Heart of Stone owned by Terry and Joanne Manning. The judge's choice for Best of Breed was GCH Greentree Gold Charm, owned by Beverly and Kevin McDonald, and Best Op was CH Mackanme One Love One Heart, owned by Deborah Van De Ven and Joe Maguadog. Select Dog was GCH Greentree Cayenne Dancer and Select Bitch was CH Greentree Preakness License to Chill. After this day's judging, Kevin and Bev McDonald again graciously hosted a wonderful lunch, thanking us BOS/BW/WD: Greentree Feis all for coming and celebrating Dancer Midnight Tobasco Waltz (CH Greentree Keepsake Tobasco Cat x CH Greentree Wind our wins. A big thank you Reserve Winners Dog was Dancer) Breeders: Kevin & Beverly McDonald. Owners: Kate for all that helped make this a Heller, Donna Baird & Beverly McDonald. successful weekend. Clover's in the Nick of Time, owned by Liz and Mike Jamiolkowski. Winners Bitch was Holweit's Counting the Stars, owned by Patricia and Robert Robeski and Sylvia and Bill Hamilton. Reserve Winners Bitch was Sweepstakes Judge Lloyd Amodei Saturday, May 3, 2014 BSW: Banner Jersey Girl BOSSW: Edgewood Take On Me (CH Whindancer Heart Like A Wheel x CH Banner Shout) Breeders/Owners: Pam & John Mandeville. (GCH Roscheen Acacia Go For Broke x CH Edgewood Ruffian) Breeder/Owner: Carl McGill. Benchmarks . volume 41 . number 2 . page 27 WB/AOM: Banner Jersey Girl (CH Whindancer Heart Like A Wheel x CH Banner Shout) Breeders/Owners: Pam & John Mandeville. SB: GCH Greentree Gold Charm (CH Wheaten Rebel’s Nelson For Navy x CH Greentree Silver Charm) Breeders: Oleh Sharanevych & Beverly & Kevin McDonald. Owners: Beverly & Kevin McDonald. RWD: Wheaten Rebel’s Take a Ticket to Greentree (Tabaluga Vom Dreiklang x Wheaten Rebel’s Ready 4 Take Off) Breeders: Margret Moeller-Sieber & Gerhard Moeller. Owners: Beverly & Kevin McDonald. SD: GCH Waterford Carnival (GCH Dhowden American Dream x CH Waterford Frolic O’Prescott) Breeders/Owners: C. Turner & M. C. Shoemaker. Benchmarks . volume 41 . number 2 . page 28 NutriScan Test by W. Jean Dodds, DVM Frequently Asked Questions 1. What is the NutriScan test? This test measures the IgA and IgM antibodies to certain foods in dog or cat saliva. High antibody levels indicate that the dog has a food sensitivity and intolerance to that food or foods. These antibodies are critical to determining food sensitivity and intolerance in saliva -- not in serum. No one else does this. NutriScan's focused salivary testing -- using the clinically relevant antibodies -- provides scientifically proven, novel veterinary diagnostics. It is not a DNA cheek swab test. 2. Does the test work in species other than dogs or cats? No; NutriScan hopes to extend testing to horses in future. 3. Does this test apply to healthy dogs and cats as well as those with known or suspected food reactivities? Yes, because saliva testing can reveal the latent or preclinical form of food sensitivity, it can be used to predict a developing or latent food reaction. 4. How does this test differ from other food "allergy" tests on serum or feces? Food allergy tests measure antibodies to IgG and IgE in serum or feces. These are typically more acute allergic reactions to foods, whereas NutriScan measures IgA and IgM antibodies on the bowel’s mucosal surface, and thus more directly correlates to symptoms of bowel (GI tract) disease. 5. How does this test differ from other food "allergy" skin testing? Skin testing used to be considered the “gold standard” of allergy testing. Aside from being unsightly and requiring that a large patch of skin be shaved, these tests are costly and do not always identify the true source of allergic reactions. 6. Why is salivary food sensitivity and intolerance testing more predictive than other food allergy testing? Saliva testing can reveal the latent or pre-clinical form of food sensitivity as antibodies to food ingredients appear in saliva before the clinical or bowel biopsydiagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease or “leaky gut syndrome” is made. 7. When do these food sensitivities typically appear once an offending food is eaten? Food sensitivities are usually seen from as early as 2 hrs and up to 72 hrs after eating, so it can be difficult to connect symptoms with a food or foods eaten several days previously. There is a very high correlation between delayed food sensitivity and the amount and frequency of the food consumed. 8. What foods are tested? 24 foods: beef, corn, wheat, soy, milk (cow), lamb, venison, chicken, turkey, white fish, pork, duck, egg (hen), barley, millet, oatmeal, salmon, rabbit, rice, quinoa, potato, peanut (peanut butter), sweet potato, lentils. 9. Should my pet be fasted or not eat before collecting the saliva? Fasting is not necessary, but the pet should not eat anything for at least 3 hours before saliva collection. Water is completely fine. 10. How much saliva is needed? The test requires 2 mL of saliva so it can be run in duplicate. It is important to collect enough saliva. 11. Must the dental cotton rope be wet with saliva? Yes; about one-half of the length of the rope should be wet with saliva. 12. What can I do if my dog or cat won't salivate? You can place a piece of tempting food in front of the pet's nose to stimulate salivation, but don’t let him actually eat the treat until you have retrieved enough saliva. Benchmarks . volume 41 . number 2 . page 29 13. Does it matter if there are some food particles on the rope? Please try to minimize this contamination. 14. Does the sample need to be frozen or specially packed for shipping to Hemopet? No; room temperature is fine. 15. How long can the sample be stored before shipping or being assayed? Salivary antigens are stable for up to 30 days after collection, and we can re-hydrate the rope with a small measured amount of saline, if needed. 16. What does the test measure? Two types of antibodies (anti-IgA and anti-IgM) against different purified food antigen extracts are measured. 17. What should I do if foods test reactive? Avoid foods,treats, supplements, grooming supplies and drug vehicles (substances to administer drugs) that contain these ingredients. 18. How is NutriScan reported? Results are quantified in Units per ml of saliva. 19. What do the Units of food reactivity represent? The antibody levels present in custom-made immunoassay plates are measured by optical density readings and these are converted to Units per ml of reaction. 20. What is a negative reaction? Negative reactions measure less than 10 Units per ml of saliva. 21. What are weak and moderately high food reactions? Those between 10.00-12.99 Units per ml are considered weak reactions; those from 13.00 to 14.99 are moderately high reactions. 22. What do the weak reactions mean? The clinical significance of the weak reactions is unclear, but in dogs or cats with established clinical signs of food sensitivity, it would be prudent to avoid foods reacting weakly as well. 23. How often should I repeat the test? We suggest repeat testing every 6-12 months in healthy dogs and cats, and every 4-6 months in food reactive dogs and cats. 24. What are strong food reactions? Those at or above 15.00 Units per ml are strong reactions. 25. If my pet tests reactive to beef, will he react to bison or buffalo? Presumably not, but there are no data on this point. 26. If my pet tests reactive to cow’s milk, will he react to goat or sheep milk? Presumably not, but there are no data on this point. 27. If my pet tests reactive to cow’s milk, will he likely react to cheese made from milk? No, he shouldn’t as most, but not all, cheese is made from the whey fraction of milk. 28. If my pet tests reactive to hen’s eggs, will he likely react to chicken? Presumably he will also react to chicken. 29. What did the initial clinical trials with this test panel reveal? Clinical trials included 566 dogs; each was tested with the 6 primary food antigens for anti-IgA and anti-IgM in saliva and anti-IgG in serum. 62% (352 of the 566) of the dogs tested showed weak, moderate or strong food reactivity to at least one food allergen. 71% of the dogs tested showed weak, moderate or strong food reactivity to beef. 71% of the dogs tested showed weak, moderate or strong food reactivity to wheat. 70% of the dogs tested showed moderate or strong food reactivity to cow’s milk. 57% of the dogs tested showed weak, moderate or strong food reactivity to corn. Fewer dogs showed food reactivity to soy (25%) and very few to egg (3%). Only one dog of 121 control dogs showed a mild antiIgG reaction in serum, and only to wheat. 30. Why did you select only 24 food allergens for salivary food sensitivity and intolerance testing? Benchmarks . volume 41 . number 2 . page 30 The NutriScan diagnostic team selected the so-called six primary food antigens, including the glutens present in the most commonly fed pet foods and treats an additional 18 antigens which can be found in some pet foods. If there is a food sensitivity or intolerance, it is very likely going to be to one of these antigens. 31. Are more needed? No and Yes. Other testing on serum includes about 24 foods, but our saliva testing provides more predictable clinical outcomes. In the economic downturn we now face, we need to be more discriminating about what testing is really needed. So this saliva test is a reliable and cost-effective screening test which can give you useful information. We do not anticipate that further panels will be needed. Food Sensitivity Testing Illustrative Diagram Benchmarks . volume 41 . number 2 . page 31 AGILITY Montgomery Terrier Agility Cluster Mon-Thurs With new “indoor” location OBEDIENCE AND RALLY “Indoors” Sat in Blue Bell CONFORMATION Four days! Sweepstakes on Sat SCWTCA Specialty on Sun in Blue Bell Don’t miss Montgomery 2014… 7 full days of Wheaten fun and versatility! Check out the SCWTCA website for more information, including this years fabulous fundraisers and raffle items. Watch for the mailer in early July. The new Pawpal form (formally known as the Bob the Banker form) will provide online ordering for fundraisers, raffle, dinners, lunches etc. Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 32 Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 33 Remembering Bob Nerrie Hullabaloo Wheatens Bob Nerrie began enjoying Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers in 1979. Bob’s first love was always performance. He often said the most important title was that at the end of the dog’s name. His dogs were always well-trained and, like him, had great manners. Not all of the dogs that lived in the Nerrie house were performance dogs, but the ones that Bob concentrated on were special. When Bob and Elaine got their first Wheaten, Bob mostly watched the conformation process unfold from the sidelines. It unfolded pretty quickly, and by the time "Paddington" was being owner-housewife specialed, Bob was borrowing him at shows for obedience competition. The dog was wonderful and Bob wanted to see him shine as a complete picture of his breed, but everyone told him it would ruin the dog for conformation. He found a trainer who did not overemphasize corrective training in an instinctive effort to preserve the terrier spirit of an already low-key dog. "Paddington" (CH Rapparee's Original Rags CDX) was a willing but not terribly talented pupil. However, he had an insatiable desire to please and completed a CDX with Bob ready to do more and learn more. “More” was "Muggsy," (CH Andover Jazz Hullabaloo CDX), a lovely bitch with great intelligence and a temperament the opposite of Paddington's, who went onto become the SCWTCA Obedience Dog of the Year. Bob’s ego was then kept in check by the next girl. "Toast," (CH Hullabaloo Sloane Square CD CGC) took to greeting acquaintances around the ring and invented the "upside down," which involved flipping onto her back with legs in the air and tail wagging furiously - a tremendous crowd-pleaser but not a Bob pleaser. She did earn a CD in three consecutive trials with high scores, but she was retired because, after all, she had the general idea. And then came "Vinnie The Weasel," (CH Hullabaloo Ashford To A "T” VCD2 TD CDX RE MX AXP MX AJP CGC). Vinnie was scary smart and became Bob's focus for demonstrating the breed's versatility potential. He excelled in all the available performance events while accumulating 23 AKC titles, including a VCD2. Positive training methods had come into favor, and Bob became a 100% convert. Without ignoring the achievements of Bob’s next two girls, "Cozy"(CH Hullabaloo Tea Cozy MX MXJ CGC) and "Cinch," (Hullabaloo Piece of Cake RN CGC)one has to get to "Rookie," (CH Hullabaloo The Rookie VCD1 TD CD RE NJP NAP)Bob's final challenge (and he is a challenge). Rookie was the first to be Bob's sole responsibility for conformation as well as performance; their last appearance together was in the Veterans’ ring at Great Western in 2012. The most impulsive and energetic dog in Bob's experience, Rookie is distracted by everything within sight; if it weren't for obedience, Rookie would be standing on the kitchen island with a roast in his mouth. Rookie was the carrot (although Elaine might say the stick) for continuing quality of life with dogs. He is the most fun of all the dogs, but it took over five years before Bob made any progress with him at all in obedience. By then, Bob’s health wasn't up to Rookie's pace (not easy for anyone, by the way) but it gave him the inspiration to keep trying. And Bob’s non-dog life? Born in New York State, an Army brat who spent some of his high school years in Japan during the Occupation, Bob received a degree in architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and served as a Navy pilot, then completed a Masters in Architecture at Yale and went on to an architectural practice in San Francisco. He retired following a long career as an architect at Stanford University. Married over 50 years, Bob is survived by Elaine and two daughters and a son, all grown and living in the San Francisco Bay area, with seven Best In Show grandchildren. Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 34 “Nothing matters in the whole wide world when you’re in love with a Jersey girl” New CH Banner Jersey Girl CH Whindancer Heart Like A Wheel x CH Banner Shout Zoey’s finish made us very proud Delaware Valley SCWTC specialty/SCWTCA Supported Entry Best in Sweepstakes – Judge Lloyd Amodei Winner’s Bitch, Award of Merit – Judge John Constantine Always Owner-Breeder Handled Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 35 Banner Wheatens, Reg. Pam & John Mandeville Somerset, NJ www.bannerwheatens.com Marijuana Toxicity in Pets Imagine your concern if you came home to find your dog unable to walk, unresponsive, or in a coma. This is becoming more common as marijuana begins to lose its illicit status, at least in some areas of the world. As the decriminalization and even legalization of marijuana has occurred, cases of toxicity in animals have unfortunately increased. Marijuana seems to have a much more profound effects in pets than in humans. Marijuana Facts and Statistics The Pet Poison Hotline has reported a 200% increase, over a five year period, in calls asking about marijuana and pets. California and Colorado both passed legislation to legalize medical marijuana usage. At the University of California, Davis, Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital there were four cases of marijuana toxicity in 2010, but there were 27 cases in 2013. Two Colorado veterinary hospitals reported a four-fold increase over the last six years, and this was before marijuana became legal. All but two of these cases lived; two dogs who ate cannabis butter died. In a 2002 study of 250 cases, 96% of cases occurred in dogs (dogs will eat anything!). In this group there were two fatal cases, one was a cat, and the other a horse. Signs of Marijuana Toxicity The active ingredient in marijuana is THC, tetrahydrocannabinol. THC affects neurotransmitters, so when toxicity occurs, neurological signs are the most common symptoms. These symptoms include depression, lack of cooridination, dilated pupils, tremors, seizures, and coma. Other signs that can occur are vomiting, salivation, low blood pressure, slow heart rate (but sometimes a fast heart rate can happen). Death is rare. Exposure in Pets Pets are usually exposed by ingesting marijuana, or foods that contain extracts of marijuana. Signs can develop within 30 to 90 minutes after exposure. THC stays in the body up to five days, but symptoms usually last up to 72 hours. When a veterinarian is presented with a patient where marijuana toxicity is suspected but the history cannot confirm (either because the owners are not aware, or don't want to admit it), a urine test can be used to detect marijuana. Treatment for Exposed Pets Dogs and cats with marijuana toxicity require hospitalization. Treatment may include inducing vomiting if the ingestion occurred very recently (within 30 to 60 minutes), the patient is awake, and it is safe to do so. Activated charcoal is also administered, often every eight hours for the first 24 hours as this helps to bind the THC so it is not absorbed into the body. Intravenous fluids are started to help flush out the toxin, and to help maintain blood pressure. The pet patient's temperature, blood glucose, and blood pressure are closely monitored. Other symptoms, such as seizures or vomiting, are treated if they appear. Many pets will eat anything, so vigilance is needed to keep them out of trouble. Marijuana poisonings are becoming more frequent, and can cause severe symptoms in pets. Pet owners need to be aware of what is accessible in a pet's environment and keep their pets safe. Sources: McKnight, Katrina. "Marijuana Toxicosis." Veterinary Technician, April 2003 American Animal Hospital Association. "Medical Marijuana Boom Posing Health Threat to GarbageEating Pets." January 2014. ASPCA. "Animal Poison Control." 2014 Seligman, Katherine. "Dog's Pot Poisoning Soars as Pets Dig Through Trash, Stash." January 10, 2014. http://lagunacanyonvet.com © Copyright 2014 Canyon Animal Hospital, All Rights Reserved Reprinted with permission from the newsletter of: Canyon Animal Hospital 20372 Laguana Canyon Road Laguna Beach, CA, 92651 Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 36 Microalbuminuria: A Discussion with Dr. Shelly Vaden Cecily Skinner, SCWTCA Health Chair & Pam Mandeville, Health Publications Chair (Excerpts from a previously published Benchmarks article and updated 1/17/14 by Cecily Skinner) Veterinarians and veterinary laboratories have been offering testing for Microalbuminuria (MA). Many owners and breeders have use MA testing for their Wheatens while others may still have some questions. Microalbuminuria is the presence of albumin in the urine at a lower concentration than can be found on other tests done during urinalysis, such as the urine dipstick. In humans, MA can be a predictor of proteinuria and can be used to predict early renal disease. (Source: Fricks article and commentary of Dr. Shelly Vaden, North Carolina State University,) This has led veterinary researchers to look at measuring MA in dogs and, eventually, to the creation of an in-office test (e.g., Heska’s ERD Heathscreen™) that displays a semi-qualitative measure of MA (i.e.,‘negative’, ‘low positive’, ‘high positive’, etc). Now, Antech Laboratories offers a quantitative (numerical values) test for MA that can be run during a urinalysis when other tests are run. What does this mean to Wheaten owners and breeders? Drs. Shelly Vaden and Meryl Littman, researchers into protein-losing diseases in Wheatens, have written that MA is a predictor of the proteinuria of PLN in some dogs. Dr. Vaden encourages all Wheaten owners to test for MA annually. Your veterinarian can request MA testing when he sends out the urinalysis sample during annual screening. (Check with your vet as the MA Test is now routinely included with a Urinalysis at many labs.) General Information about MA What is Microalbuminuria? MA, in the dog, is defined as a urinary albumin concentration between 1.0 and 30.0 mg/dl. Albumin is a protein that is not normally filtered by the glomerular capillary wall in the kidney and should not appear in the urine. (Dr. Shelly Vaden, 2005) Why should a Wheaten owner test for MA? In humans, it has been shown that MA is a consistent predictor of proteinuria and is used to predict early renal disease. Dogs, such as SCWTs that develop glomerular disease (e.g., PLN), can be genetically predisposed to renal disease. A preliminary study found that these dogs and their cross-bred progeny had a higher prevalence of MA than clinically normal dogs. (Source: Fricks article, 2005) What is the relationship between MA and PLN? MA can be detected by an increase in either the Antech urine albumin test or the Heska ERD test and may be an indication of early PLN. What is the relationship between MA and RD? RD is a disease in which the kidney does not develop normally. Fetal tissues, including fetal glomeruli, remain in the kidney long after these tissues should have matured. Progressive renal failure ensues. Along with progressive renal failure, glomerulosclerosis develops. These abnormal glomeruli may leak albumin, leading to MA. Likewise, the abnormal tubules may not reabsorb albumin that has accidentally escaped through more normal glomeruli. In this situation, MA may not precede the clinical onset of RD as it does with PLN; rather, they would be present at around the same time. What is the relationship between MA and other kidney disease? Anytime there is damage to the glomeruli, which can be primary or secondary, there is leakage of albumin into the filtrate. The filtrate is the fluid that, after being modified by the remainder of the kidney, will eventually become urine. If the tubules are unable to absorb the albumin in the filtrate, either because there is too much albumin or because the tubules are also damaged, the albumin will appear in the urine. This will lead to a positive MA test. What other than kidney disease can cause a positive MA result? Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 37 Any condition where there is increased loss of albumin into the urine will cause an increased urine albumin. These MA tests are not specific for PLN of SCWT. (Vaden article, 2002) The following diseases can produce MA (Source: Heska website): • Dental disease • Pyoderma • Immune-mediated diseases • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) • Heartworm disease • Ehrlichiosis • Lyme disease • Diabetes mellitus • Hyperadrenocorticism • Cushing’s disease • Hypertension • Neoplasia Testing for MA How do I test for MA? Your veterinarian may offer an “in-office” test, the Heska E.R.D. Healthscreen®. You can also have your veterinarian request to have testing for MA added onto a normal urinalysis panel if the lab (such as Antech) used offers MA Testing. (Source, Fricks article) What is the E.R.D test? Is that different from an MA test done by the lab? Both tests detect the presence of MA in the urine. The E.R.D. test is a “semi-qualitative” test done in your vet’s office. The results will not be in numbers but will be characterized as ‘negative’, ‘low positive’, ‘medium positive’, or ‘high positive’. A ‘negative’ means that the sample has less than 1.0 mg/dl MA. (Source: Heska website) The test done by the lab (such as Antech) is quantitative. The result will be a number in mg/dl, such as 0.5 mg/dl, 2.5 mg/dl, etc. The lab results will include a “normal” range, i.e., below a certain mg/dl level. Discuss all results with your veterinarian. My vet doesn’t have the in-house ERD test. How can I test for MA? You can ask to have a quantitative MA test added by the lab (such as Antech) to your Wheaten’s annual screening if the test is available. Which test should I do? That choice is between you and your veterinarian. One difference is that the in-house E.R.D. is quick and you may have your results that day. The lab test may take a few days. (Note: Many vets no longer stock the ERD Test as it has a limited shelf life. If at all possible, request your Urinalysis be done by Antech and add the MA Test.) Is there any special protocol…, e.g., fasting, first urine, special diet or handling, free catch or cystocentesis, etc…required prior to testing for MA for getting the most reliable results? The MA tests can be run in any urine sample collected by any means providing the sample is not discolored by the presence of blood (for example: if the dog also has a urinary tract infection or if urine is collected by cystosentisis and blood is in the sample). The dog does not need to be prepared in any particular way prior to providing the urine specimen. Who Should Test? My Wheaten is a pet. Should I test him for MA? All SCWT should be tested, at least annually. (Vaden article, 2002) My Wheaten is a pet but his close relatives (parents or siblings) are being bred. Should I test him for MA? All SCWT should be tested, at least annually. (Vaden article, 2002) My Wheaten will be bred. Should I test him for MA? All SCWT should be tested, at least annually. (Vaden article, 2002) How old should my Wheaten be when I start testing for MA? At what age can I stop? Because the familial nephropathy occurring in Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers occurs later in life, testing in these dogs should begin no later than 1 year of age and continue annually throughout a Wheaten’s life. (Vaden 2003) A study of over 3,000 dogs showed a higher prevalence of MA as dogs reach age 9 and over. (See “Does age affect MA results?”) I test my dog regularly. All his urinalysis results are very good and his UPC is consistently at 0.1 or lower. Why should I do an MA, too? The MA test is the most sensitive test of urine protein. This means that this test will become positive at urine albumin concentrations that are lower than will be detected by other tests, but still abnormal. Most dogs with a high positive MA will also have an abnormal UPC. Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 38 Understanding MA results Does age affect MA results? In a large study of 3041 veterinary clinic staff-owned dogs from over 350 veterinary clinics, the overall prevalence of MA was 24.7%. The health status of the dogs was not reported. A statistically significant correlation was found between increasing age and MA, with 36% of dogs 9-11 years of age and 49.1% of dogs 12 and older demonstrating MA. These findings appear to be in agreement with previous reports of an increased incidence of certain types of glomerular disease in older dogs. (Vaden 2003). The lab my vet uses for testing MA recently increased its “normal” range from less than 1.0 mg/ dl to less than 2.5 mg/dl. If my Wheaten’s results are between 1.0 and 2.5, does that mean it is a normal reading?The lab recently revised their “normal” readings because the majority of dogs tested fell in this range. It has been my experience, with our colony dogs, that those who test between 1 and 2.5 mg/dl progress to higher values. Perhaps a dog that tests in that range should have another urine sample checked in six months instead of one year. Again, it is those dogs that have a progressive increase that are the ones to be concerned about. Is the Wheaten “normal” different than the “normal” for all dogs in general?No. There is no evidence that would suggest this at this point. What is the relationship between MA and Urine Protein Creatinine ratio (UPC) values? The MA test and the UPC ratio are both means to assess urine protein. The MA test only measures urine albumin where as the UPC ratio measures total protein in the urine, including albumin. The test for MA is more sensitive and will be abnormal first. Dogs with MA values that progress to the high positive and very high positive will likely have an abnormal UPC ratio. Do the following impact MA results: Exposure to tick-borne diseases (Lyme, Erlichia, RMSP) that shows up according to tests but with no active disease or treatment or active tick-borne disease followed by treatment? Will vaccination with the Lyme Vaccine impact results?An animal can develop MA anytime there is damage to the glomerular membrane. Most tick-borne diseases can cause damage of the basement membrane and therefore lead to MA. Theoretically, the MA should resolve with appropriate treatment of the tick-borne disease. Vaccination should not lead to MA unless there is an adverse reaction to the vaccine. If the results are impacted, what should I do? Retest following appropriate treatment. Do I need to do both the MA and the UPC tests every time I test my dogs? If not, when do I test for MA, and when should I run the UPC? No. The MA test is an early indicator and might be abnormal before the UPC. This should be used during the screening process. Once the MA test results are high positive or above, the UPC will at some point become abnormal and can be followed beyond that point. If there is a protein-losing problem, will it show up first in the MA, in the UPC, or in the urine dipstick results? The studies out of our lab show that the MA test is positive first, in most dogs. Some dogs progress so quickly that the window of finding MA, before the UPC ratio is positive, may be quite narrow and missed. Urine dipstick results suffer from many false positives. They should not be relied on because better tests are available. Is there a point in the progression of MA detected (increase in value) at which one would stop testing for MA and only test the UPC ratio? Once the MA is more than a medium positive, the UPC ratio should be abnormal and can be followed instead. Since the evidence suggests that the majority of older dogs will show microalbumin, does this indicate “age-related” kidney issues versus disease such as PLN, if the UPC ratio and blood testing show no indications of disease? This is a very good question. Older dogs can develop age-related changes in the kidney called glomerulosclerosis. Glomerulosclerosis can be associated with mild proteinuria and, therefore, MA. However, older dogs are also at risk to develop other diseases that cause primary or secondary damage to the glomeruli, which will also cause proteinuria and MA. So, MA in an older dog may indicate Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 39 age-related changes to the kidney or the development of a glomerular disease, such as PLN of SCWT. I’ve seen testing where the UPC ratio is 0.3 on a younger dog, yet the MA is low. Why would that be? A UPC ratio of 0.3 is within the normal range. The UPC ratio measures all urine proteins, whereas the MA test is specific for urine albumin, which is only one of the urine proteins. When the MA is higher than normal, what should be done? Good question. Again, we need more data. If the urine albumin concentration is progressively increasing in a given dog, there is good evidence to suggest that this dog will progress to develop overt proteinuria (e.g., PLN). The question of when to intervene has not been answered completely. However, we know that proteinuria can lead to progressive damage to the kidneys and eventual renal failure. Therefore, animals that have persistent MA may be at risk for eventual renal failure. Medications that have been shown to reduce the magnitude of proteinuria, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors like benazepril (Lotensin®) or enalapril (Enacard®, Vasotec®), should be given to dogs with established proteinuria. We do not yet know the benefit of these drugs in animals that have only MA. Likewise, lowdose aspirin may be of benefit in dogs with persistent proteinuria. The question of appropriate diet also needs to be answered. If PLN develops because of long-standing inflammation in the gut and perhaps food allergies, would affected dogs benefit more from a hydrolysate diet or from a renal diet? This answer is just not known. The best diet may be a renal diet that is made from hydrolyzed proteins, but such a diet is not available. Because the lesions in the kidneys have probably been there for a long time before the dog develops proteinuria and we know that animals with renal disease benefit from a renal diet, my general leaning is to feed dogs that have only PLN a renal diet. If however, they have combined PLN and overt PLE, they may be managed better overall if they are fed a hydrolysate diet. In any case, it is best to work with a veterinarian and individualize the affected dog’s care. (Vaden article, 2002) Additional Resources • Q&A with Dr. Vaden: Carlson, Carol. “Frequently Asked Questions about Fecal API & Urine MA Tests.” 30.4 Benchmarks (December 2002): 49-54. • Q&A with Dr. Littman: “Canine Health Online – Q & A.” 31.1 Benchmarks (March 2003): 80-96.” • Antech Labs article: http://www.antechdiagnostics. com/clients/antechNews/2004/feb04_02.htm • Heska (maker of the in-office ERD test) website: http://www.heska.com/erd/index.asp • DVM News article: http://www.dvmnewsmagazine. com/dvm/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=73072 • Fricks, Crystal B, DVM, et. al, “Microalbuminuria in the Dog: Detection and Significance” 31.2 Benchmarks (June 2005) • More information on Lab Results: Health Websites for SCWTs.” 31.4 Benchmarks (December 2003) :6971) ---------------------------------------• WA State U, College of Vet Med – What do those lab tests mean? www.vetmed.wsu.edu/cliented/lab.htm • Ed Uthman’s Website - Diplomate, American Board of Pathology http://web2.airmail.net/uthman/lab_test. html • Douglas Island Veterinary Service www.home.gci. net/~divs/disease/lab_tests.html • Columbia Animal Hospital Website www.cah.com/ library/labtests.html • The Internet Pathology Laboratory – Urinalysis/ Human http://medlib.med.utah.edu/WebPath/TUTORIAL/ URINE/URINE.html • BUN www.rnceus.com/renal/renalbun.html • Urine Specific Gravity www.rnceus.com/ua/uasg. html About Shelly Vaden, PhD DVM, DACVIM Dr. Vaden is on the faculty of North Carolina State University in the Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine. Her faculty position is Professor of Internal Medicine. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Georgia. Dr. Vaden’s clinical interests include general internal medicine and diseases of the upper and lower urinary tract. Her Professional Experience & Qualifications include: • Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Medicine • Internship, New York State College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell • Combined residency/graduate program in Small Animal Intenal Medicine, North Carolina State University • Her Research Area is diseases of the kidney, with many of her projects focused on glomerulonephritis. She has a specific interest in protein-losing enteropathy and nephropathy (PLE and PLN) of Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers. Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 40 New Members Join SCWTCA Names: Brian Ness and Michael Weiss Brian Ness Occupation: Social Playgroup Dog overnight boarding and daycare operators in the wine country of Sonoma, California. Children/Grandchildren: no children, lots of other animals though. Camels, Freisian horses, Zebu cattle, chickens, ducks, Jacob sheep, Angora goats, Pygmy goat, Black swans, miniature donkeys, rabbits.... Name and Ages of Dogs: We currently have Beret (CH Vintage Green Beret Ballad) who is nine, and Breeze (CH Vintage Prairie Wind) who is four. We have two girls that are a year old from our last litter with Breeze whom we are watching and starting to show: Whirl (Vintage Like a Whirlwind) and Nor (Vintage Nor' Easter). When did you get your first Wheaten? We got our first Wheaten in 1995 from Robyn Alexander. His name was Durum (Derryhumma Winter Solstice). How did you become interested in Wheatens? Brian had seen Wheatens in the mideighties and then in 1994 we went to a dog show and started exploring getting a purebred dog because Brian wanted to get into showing dogs as he had shown other animals in 4-H as a kid. We narrowed it down to Wheatens or Kerries. Obviously, the Wheatens won initially....see next question. a female that was a granddaughter to Mick. The granddaughter went to New Zealand where she was shown to the title best of all breeds for New Zealand that year. We do not have Kerries right now, but about seven years ago got our first Irish Wolfhound and have had one litter since. We currently have the mom, her son and daughter, have championed the male and are working on the female. What activities do you participate in with your Wheatens? Other than the normal day-to-day activities, we participate in conformation only right now. What is the most memorable thing that has happened to you and your dog(s)? With the Wheatens we have had several memorable wins at our NorCal Specialty, Great Western and Montgomery. Brian showing Beret at our first Eukanuba show is up there as well. When you think of your first Wheaten, what do you remember most about him/her? Durum was a great companion and initiated us into the world of showing Wheatens. Why did you decide to join SCWTCA? Best answer is: It was time! And who can't love Wheatens??? Brian and Michael were sponsored by Kay Baird and Pat Mullin. Brian contributes his grooming, breeding, rescue and training skills to SCWTCA. Michael offers his breeding, rescue, stewarding and training skills. What breeds of dogs have you had other than Wheatens? Kerries, Irish Wolfhounds, and Great Pyrenees. We did eventually get a Kerry Blue Terrier from Nancy Han that was a son to Mick and then Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 41 Michael Weiss Subscription Rates SCWTCA members USA $25/year, Canada and overseas $35/year Non-SCWTCA members USA $35/year Non-SCWTCA members Canada and overseas $45/year US funds only The link to Benchmarks online is sent to all AKC approved and provisional SCWT judges Benchmarks is also sent to all judges requesting a subscription, free of charge. Articles and letters for September issue are due August 1 Publications Owner’s Manual Benchmarks (Back Issues) Grooming Chart Pet Grooming Pamphlet Illustrated Standard Multiple copies available to club members only. See directory for prices. SINGLE COPIES ONLY to non-members. Price includes postage if mailed in the U.S. Advertising Rates Full page $50 Back Cover advertising in color $100 Inside Covers advertising in color $75 Page size 8.5 x 11 inches For publications and pricing for shipments outside the U.S. contact: Kayce Healy 7290 Forest Ridge Circle Castle Pines, CO 80108 publications@scwtca.org Ads may be sent as e-mail attachments, photo 300 dpi, .jpeg format or .pdf format Original photos will be returned. Only photos with un-retouched dogs will be accepted. Limit health references to hip and eyes and/or “health testing current and shared upon request.” Ads accepted from club members only and limited to two pages per issue. ONLY CLUB MEMBERS’ CHECKS WILL BE ACCEPTED for ads of co-owned and/or bred dogs. Ad closing date for September issue: August 1 Send advertising to Molly O’Connell. (If sent by overnight service, sign “signature waiver” so driver will leave package.) If you have copy submitted by August 1, a draft layout will be sent to you for edits. Include email address for quick turnaround. Payment should be sent to the editor, payable to SCWTCA. MEMBERSHIP PACKET RESCUE HEALTH ISSUES FECAL API KITS 2014 MCKC Susan McGee (membership@scwtca.org) Nancy Butler (rescue@scwtca.org) Cecily Skinner (health@scwtca.org) Toni Vincent (fecalapikit@scwtca.org) Karen Mueller (specialty@scwtca.org) BENCHMARKS DIRECTORY UPDATES WEBMASTER BD OF DIRECTORS SCWTCA OFA DATABASE Cindy Jansen (subscribe@scwtca.org) directory@scwtca.org Robyn Alexander (web@scwtca.org) board@scwtca.org www.scwtca.org http//www.offa.org CERF DATABASE http//www.vmdb.org/cerf YEARBOOKS (1988-2000) specify the year (2001-2003) specify the year (2004-2005) specify the year (2006-2008) specify the year (2009-2012) specify the year (2010-2012) print and cd Checks should be made payable to SCWTCA, Inc. drawn on U.S. accounts or with International money orders in U.S. funds. Tax deductible donations by check for Wheaten health may be mailed to: Toni Vincent SCWTCA Endowment/Treasurer 3825 132nd Avenue NE Bellevue, WA 98005-1303 Make checks payable to: SCWTCA Endowment, Inc. (a 501(c)(3) non-profit, fully deductible for IRS purposes) Make all checks payable to SCWTCA, Inc. ONLY U.S. FUNDS WILL BE ACCEPTED. All others will be returned Celebrating Long Life submit to: Molly O’Connell by closing date August 1, 2014 All donations may be sent to: Pat Mullin 565 Cringle Drive Redwood City, CA 94065 $15 $20 $25 $45 $65 $75 To purchase and receive yearbooks contact: Cindy Shea 1524 Meinsershagen Rd. Foristell, MO 63348 eringlo@yahoo.com For Benchmarks subscriptions contact: Cindy Jansen 1203 Pierpont Meadows Road Columbia, MO 65201-9309 cjansen@socket.net Donations $13 $ 9 $ 5 $ 5 $18 Benchmarks Editor Molly O’Connell moconn1030@comcast.net Benchmarks is the official quarterly publication of SCWTCA, Inc. The opinions expressed in articles contained herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Editor, or the Officers and Directors of the Club. The Editor reserves the right to reasonably edit all material submitted for publication. Comments, suggestions, and expressions of opinion from the readers are always welcomed. Original articles may be reprinted with the permission of the Editor. Benchmarks . volume 42 . number 2 . page 42 GCH Gleanngay Legend of the Grail x CH Stratford Top O' the Mornin’ CH Stratford As Legend Has It “Renly” finished in nine shows, undefeated, with six BOBs CH Doubloon's Southern Comfort “Gator” finished with three majors, then a group 4 his first weekend out as a special. Stratford Bestseller “Harper” Also a littermate, will soon end this chapter with her Championship Doubloon Wheatens Elena Landa Stratford Wheatens Molly O'Connell